{"id":33041,"date":"2026-03-04T01:36:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T09:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clearly.ca\/thelook\/?p=33041"},"modified":"2026-03-05T01:25:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T09:25:27","slug":"learn-about-blue-eyes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clearly.ca\/thelook\/learn-about-blue-eyes\/","title":{"rendered":"Blue Eyes: Fascinating Facts, Genetics & Health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For being a rare eye colour, blue eyes have made quite a name for themselves across different cultures. The symbolic use of blue eyes in art and literature seems to be more common than any other colour. Some cultures believe in the \u201cEvil Eye\u201d \u2014 a pale blue eye that is thought to protect against evil forces. Whatever the case, blue eyes seem to have a way of captivating people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read on to learn interesting facts about blue eyes, including what this eye colour can mean for your health. Plus, eyewear tips for blue-eyed people who really want their peepers to pop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Facts about\u00a0blue eyes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here\u00a0are a few interesting facts about this\u00a0eye\u00a0colour:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue eyes are rare<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While blue eyes are\u00a0technically\u00a0the second most common eye\u00a0colour\u00a0globally,\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0still considered rare. Only 8%\u00a0to\u00a010% of the global population has\u00a0blue eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue eyes\u00a0aren’t\u00a0actually blue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Eyes get their colour from a substance called melanin. Melanin is created by cells called melanocytes. Everyone has the same number of melanocytes, but the amount of melanin produced varies from person to person. The more melanin the cells produce, the darker the pigment is in a person\u2019s eyes, skin, and hair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While many people believe blue eyes occur when blue pigment is present, that\u2019s actually not the case. Rather, blue-coloured eyes result from a lack of pigment in the iris (the coloured part of the eye). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because there is\u00a0little to no\u00a0pigment\u00a0in blue eyes,\u00a0longer wavelengths of\u00a0light\u00a0are\u00a0absorbed and\u00a0scattered\u00a0when\u00a0light\u00a0hits the iris. The\u00a0shorter\u00a0wavelengths of light, like blue light, are reflected from the iris,\u00a0giving\u00a0the eyes a blue appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue-eyed people may have descended from a common ancestor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to studies, most (but not all) people with blue eyes show an identical genetic difference in the OCA2 gene. This <\/em>gene is responsible for making pigment in the hair, skin, and nails. In blue-eyed people, the OCA2 gene was found to produce less pigment in the eyes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fact that this difference is seen across\u00a0most\u00a0people with blue eyes has led scientists to believe that\u00a0these\u00a0blue-eyed people may descend from a common ancestor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Babies’ eye\u00a0colour\u00a0can change as they grow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Around 50% of Caucasian babies are born with blue or grey eyes. While some babies will keep their blue eyes, many will experience a change in eye colour during the first few months of life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is because melanin production takes time to develop in the iris. As the baby grows and their eyes develop, more melanin will be produced. This can cause pale blue eyes to darken into a green, hazel or amber colour.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Babies born\u00a0from\u00a0parents with\u00a0higher levels of melanin, such as\u00a0indigenous, black,\u00a0or\u00a0people of\u00a0colour, are\u00a0most\u00a0often born with brown eyes\u00a0that stay brown as they grow.\u00a0They can also be born with blue eyes or lighter-coloured eyes that darken later, but\u00a0it’s\u00a0much less common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue eyes\u00a0are more sensitive to sunlight<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Just as a person with fair skin is more susceptible to\u00a0sunburn, blue-eyed people are more prone to photophobia\u00a0(light sensitivity).\u00a0The\u00a0smaller\u00a0amount\u00a0of pigment in the eyes affects their ability to block or filter out\u00a0harsh sunlight or fluorescent light. This can lead to squinting or blurred vision in bright environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep in mind that light sensitivity can also affect people with darker\u00a0eyes,\u00a0but\u00a0it\u00a0is more prevalent in blue-eyed people.\u00a0Wearing dark-tinted sunglasses and a hat when outdoors can keep the sensitive eyes more comfortable\u00a0in bright conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two blue-eyed parents can have a child with brown eyes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to genetics and eye colour, it\u2019s kind of a toss-up for what colour your child\u2019s eyes will be. For example, parents with blue or blue-green eyes can have a brown-eyed child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without getting too deep into the nitty-gritty of genetics, blue eyes are a recessive trait, and brown eyes are a dominant trait.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, while both parents may have blue eyes, if one or both have a \u201cbrown eyed\u201d gene in their DNA, it\u2019s possible that one or more of their children could have brown eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Health considerations\u00a0for people with blue eyes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned earlier, blue-eyed people \u2014 regardless of whether they have pale or dark blue eyes \u2014 are at a higher risk of light sensitivity.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, the irritation that results from photophobia can be avoided by wearing sunglasses and a hat when outdoors. People who experience light sensitivity indoors with fluorescent lighting may benefit from lightly tinted eyeglasses to help filter some of the harsh indoor light. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

People with blue eyes also face the risk of developing a specific type of eye cancer called uveal melanoma. The uvea is the middle layer of the eye\u2019s \u201cwall\u201d and includes the iris, choroid, and ciliary body.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uveal melanoma occurs when the melanocytes in the eye mutate and become cancerous.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0most common\u00a0in\u00a0elderly\u00a0Caucasian\u00a0adults\u00a0with blonde hair and light eyes.\u00a0Routine eye exams can help detect\u00a0serious conditions\u00a0like this\u00a0and\u00a0allow your eye doctor to\u00a0establish\u00a0treatment early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Famous Canadians with blue eyes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While Canada has its fair share of blue-eyed celebs, below are a few you may recognize: <\/p>\n\n\n\n